“Many of them have overgrown gardens and one house I know of has become a fly-tipping site and is a health and safety hazard.

“We do have a problem with empty homes, probably more so in the Peak District, where homes are left empty for the vast majority of the time.”

Coun Jean Monks asked whether people who have had their homes for sale for an extended period of time, and have been unable to sell, would fall under the new levy.

Council officers said that if the home has been empty for two or more years it would be included, regardless of whether it had been for sale.

Coun Sue Burfoot said that owners of long-term homes should be told that the authority or a housing association will compulsory purchase the house if action is not taken.

Tim Braund, head of regulatory services for the authority, said: “We do have two houses for which we are gathering up case files for to see if compulsory purchase would be possible – this could possibly be enough to incentivise the owners.

“It does take a huge amount of time to build a case and to see what is legally possible.”

Eddie Bisknell , Local Democracy Reporting Service

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